Releases – June 21, 2012
During its meeting last week in Orlando, members of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council requested an emergency rule be used to provide recreational and commercial fishermen the opportunity to harvest a limited number of red snapper later this year, perhaps by early fall. The Council determined that a total of 13,067 fish could be harvested this year after reviewing the latest estimates of total removals of red snapper (dead discards) that have occurred during 2010 and 2011 under the current moratorium.
The red snapper fishery has been closed in South Atlantic federal waters since January 4, 2010, to end overfishing and rebuild the stock as required by Congress through the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The estimates, provided to the Council by NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center, showed that removals of red snapper through discarding are below the total removals allowed under the current rebuilding plan for the stock, thus allowing for a limited harvest.
Upon approval by the Secretary of Commerce, the emergency rule would allow for recreational fishermen to harvest a total of 9,399 fish during three-day weekend openings, with the dates of the openings to be determined by NOAA Fisheries Service. During the opening, the bag limit would be 1 fish per person/day and there would be no size limit. The commercial fishery would be allowed a total of 3,668 fish or 20,818 pounds (gutted weight). The commercial fishery would open in seven-day “mini-season” increments subject to the quota, with a limit of 50 pounds per trip and no size limits. The current allocation for the red snapper fishery is 72% recreational and 28% commercial.
“The Secretary will try to make a decision on the request within 60 days,” said Roy Crabtree, southeast regional administrator for NOAA Fisheries Service. “Depending on publication of the final rule, fishing for red snapper could likely occur sometime in September.” Dr. Crabtree pointed out that fishermen will be given ample notice to prepare for the opening. NOAA Fisheries Service could modify the opening dates of the fishery dependent upon weather conditions.
“The Council is pleased to have updated data that allows for a limited harvest of red snapper as the stock continues to rebuild,” said Council Chairman David Cupka. “While the opening for both the recreational and commercial fisheries may be brief, this will provide an opportunity to collect fishery-dependent data from the fish that are harvested,” said Cupka. “Fishermen at this week’s meeting have stated their willingness to participate in data collection efforts.”
Council members emphasized the need for NOAA Fisheries Service to closely monitor landings if the red snapper fishery opens and encouraged the use of onboard observers for both headboat and commercial vessels, additional dockside intercepts, and other measures. Both state and federal agencies would be involved in data collection efforts during the openings.
The emergency rule to allow harvest would be a temporary measure. The Council will begin development of an amendment to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan to control the annual harvest of red snapper through a tag program. The plan would be administered by NOAA Fisheries Service and tags would be distributed to both commercial and recreational fishermen using a lottery system. Public hearings will be held on the amendment as it is developed. The Council will consider options for the tag program during its September meeting in Charleston.
The Annual Catch Limit for red snapper of 13,067 fish in 2012 will be modified each year, using harvest data and fishery-independent data collected through ongoing offshore sampling programs. A benchmark stock assessment for red snapper is scheduled for 2014.
Other Measures:
Golden Tilefish
The Council also approved measures to implement an endorsement program for the commercial golden tilefish fishery. Amendment 18B to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan would cap the number of participants in the commercial fishery, establish allocations between fishermen using longlines and those using hook-and-line to harvest golden tilefish, and other measures. The amendment must be approved by the Secretary of Commerce before implementation.
Marine Protected Areas
After reviewing public comment, recommendations from its Scientific and Statistical Committee, Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel, and reports from earlier workshops, the Council will continue to develop management alternatives to use MPAs as added protection for speckled hind and warsaw grouper. The Council will hold two additional public workshops in North Carolina and Florida in conjunction with a series of public hearings scheduled for August 6-16, 2012.
The hearings will be held from Key Largo, FL, to New Bern, NC, and address: permits and data collection for for-hire and commercial vessels; management measures for the commercial shrimp fishery to expedite the closure of federal waters in conjunction with state closures due to adverse weather; alternatives for joint federal dealer permits between the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico; and other issues.
Details regarding the public hearings are available from the Council’s website. MPA workshop details will be posted as they become available.
The next meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is scheduled for September 10-14, 2012, in North Charleston, SC. Details for the meeting and meeting materials will be posted on the Council’s website at www.safmc.net as they become available.
The Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina strongly objects to the recent off road vehicle (ORV) restrictions and resource “buffers” for Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area (CHNSRA) imposed by the National Park Service (NPS). For more than half a century the recreational fishing public, as well as general beach users, has had free and open access to CHNSRA beaches. CCA requests your help to pass H.R. 4094.
As it currently stands, CHNSRA access will now be held hostage by the NPS. The decision to implement these restrictions has been from baseless science promoted by a few misguided environmental groups. These groups have misrepresented the facts, in this instance, by citing successful nesting of birds and turtles when compared to years when major storms destroyed their nests. In fact, there has never been any indication that ORVs were a major cause of harm to these animals.
Please take a moment and click the link below to send a note to your elected officials asking their support of HR 4094 and voicing your support for the National Park Service to restore access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area to its original intent, year round access by all citizens. Further, send this note on to all of your friends who want free and open beaches in our Outer Banks.
Click this link to log in and send your message: www.votervoice.net/link/target/ccanc/iE5MzqE2.aspx.
July 4 is your one chance a year to get hooked on fishing—for free! From 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m., everyone in North Carolina—resident and non-residents alike—can fish in any public body of water, from mountain trout waters to coastal waters, without purchasing a fishing license or additional trout fishing privilege.
Although no fishing license is required to fish on July 4, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission reminds anglers that all other fishing regulations, such as size and creel limits and lure restrictions, still apply.
To give anglers a better chance of catching fish, the Commission stocks a variety of fish in waters across the state—including trout and channel catfish. The agency also provides free access to fishing sites across the state, including public fishing areas and boating access areas. A list of more than 500 fishing areas open to the public is on the Commission’s website at www.ncwildlife.org/fishing.
Authorized by the N.C. General Assembly and started in 1994, North Carolina’s annual free fishing day always falls on July 4.
“The Wildlife Commission offers a free fishing day to show novice anglers how much fun fishing can be and to remind lapsed anglers how much fun they’ve been missing,” said Robert Curry, chief of the Wildlife Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries. “It’s a great opportunity for anglers of all ages and abilities to experience the incredible fishing that North Carolina has to offer.”
While a fishing license is not required for anglers 15 years and younger, anyone age 16 and older must have a fishing license to fish in any public water in North Carolina, including coastal waters.
To purchase a license, (1) call the Commission at (888) 248-6834. Their hours of operation are 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., 7 days a week; (2) go to www.ncwildlife.org using a computer or mobile device; (3) visit a local Wildlife Service Agent.
For a list of all public fishing areas, visit the Fishing page, or call the Division of Inland Fisheries at (919) 707-0220.
